Fire evacuatesBeaver Falls plant

By Larissa Theodore, Calkins Media

Tuesday

Jan 19, 2010 at 12:01 AM

BEAVER FALLS - A small fire sparked inside a large exhaust pipe Monday, forcing an evacuation at a Beaver Falls manufacturing plant.

Bob Knezovich, plant manager, said 40 to 50 employees cleared Armstrong World Industries, 1018 11th St., as a precaution after an employee smelled smoke around 4:30 p.m. in the operation base of the plant, which manufactures acoustic ceiling tile.

Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe said the fire started inside a clogged exhaust pipe that pulls heat from machinery and vents it through the roof.

Stowe said flames appear to have started between the second and third floors inside the pipe, which runs the length of the four-story building to the roof, he said. Firefighters spent nearly five hours snuffing out flames at the building, which runs the length of two city blocks.

"It was a difficult fire because we had to literally take sections of the pipe off to get to the fire," Stowe said.

Crews were stationed with hose lines on all four floors and the roof. At one point, the fire spread to insulation on the third floor, Stowe said. Flames also spread out to the roof, he said.

Though the fire was small, Stowe said firefighters worked meticulously to avoid damaging machinery and stock inside the building. Large trash bins were placed at the bottom of the exhaust pipe to catch runoff water, and machinery was sheltered with salvage covers to prevent water damage.